A review of Tuesday's Europa League quarter-finals, as Wolves' long campaign came to an end.
Europa League quarter-final results
Jimenez penalty miss punished as Wolves crash out of Europa League
Wolves’ Europa League dreams are over after Sevilla punished Raul Jimenez’s early penalty miss to set-up a semi-final clash with Manchester United.
This continental campaign has been as long as it has been memorable for the West Midlands club, having gone from the second qualifying round to their first European quarter-final in 48 years.
But Wolves’ 59th match of the season proved a step too far, with Lucas Ocampos heading home at the death to secure Europa League experts Sevilla a 1-0 win and semi-final clash against United this Sunday.
As if the late defeat was not galling enough for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side, Jimenez missing his first spot-kick for the club at just wrong time added to the heartbreak.
Adama Traore’s superb slaloming run from his own half drew a penalty that goalkeeper Yassine Bounou easily saved in the 13th minute, with Sevilla dominating the remainder of the one-legged quarter-final in Duisburg.
Nuno’s men had to dig deep to keep Julen Lopetegui’s in-form side at bay, but their resistance was broken two minutes from time as Ocampos gave the five-time champions a shot at another final.
Wolves’ wounds will take a while to heal but nobody will forget this European journey, having gone from Northern Ireland to Germany via Armenia, Italy, Turkey, Slovakia, Portugal, Spain and Greece.
Shakhtar set up Inter semi-final
Shakhtar Donetsk stormed through to the Europa League semi-finals with an impressive 4-1 win over FC Basel.
The result never looked in doubt for Shakhtar in Gelsenkirchen from the moment they took the lead in the second minute.
The Ukrainian side will face Italian giants Inter Milan in Monday’s semi-final.
Junior Moraes headed home from a Marlos cross to give his side an early lead and Shakhtar continued to dominate and soon doubled their advantage, with Taison’s shot deflecting past goalkeeper Djordje Nikolic and into the back of the net in the 22nd minute.
Alan Patrick expertly converted a penalty for his side’s third in the 75th minute, striking the ball into the roof of the net.
Shakhtar had the game sealed and stretched their advantage when Dodo added a fourth in the 88th minute, firing the ball in from the right.
Basel struggled to make their mark on the game, but managed to score a consolation goal, with former Norwich striker Ricky van Wolfswinkel tapping the ball in from close range.